Search Results (1,519)

Background/Objectives: Short-term low-fermentable oligo-, di-, and monosaccharide and polyol (FODMAP) diets can reduce exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms (Ex-GIS); however, their effects on the gut microbiome, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and gastrointestinal biomarkers remain unclear. This study explored the effects of 48 h dietary FODMAP manipulation within a high-carbohydrate diet on faecal bacterial and SCFA profiles, and their relationships with exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndrome (EIGS) biomarkers, Ex-GIS, and performance. Methods: Twelve endurance athletes experiencing Ex-GIS were randomly allocated to a 48 h high-carbohydrate (mean ± SD: 12.1 ± 1.8 g∙d⁻¹)–high-FODMAP (HC-HFOD) (54.8 ± 10.5 g∙d⁻¹) and a 48 h high-carbohydrate–low-FODMAP (HC-LFOD) (3.0 ± 0.2 g∙d⁻¹) diet before 2 h of running at 60% $\dot{V}$O_2max, followed by a 1 h distance test (22.9 ± 1.2 °C, 46 ± 8% RH). Baseline faecal samples were collected before exercise trials to determine faecal bacterial and SCFA profiles. Blood samples were collected pre- and post-exercise to determine plasma I-FABP, sCD14, and CRP concentrations. Ex-GIS were recorded every 15 min throughout exercise. Results: Faecal bacterial α-diversity and relative abundance (RA%) at the phylum level were unchanged following both diets, while several family- and genus-level taxa RA% values were changed (p < 0.05), with greater shifts after HC-HFOD. HC-HFOD significantly increased faecal total-SCFA (p = 0.004), acetic (p = 0.002), and butyric (p = 0.028) acid concentrations. Strong positive and negative correlations between bacterial RA% and EIGS biomarkers and Ex-GIS were observed. Strong negative correlations with bacterial RA% and performance were observed. Conclusions: The 48 h HC-HFOD resulted in greater increases in bacterial RA% and SCFA concentrations compared with baseline. Bacterial RA% correlated bidirectionally with EIGS biomarkers and Ex-GIS, alongside strong negative associations with performance. Full article

This exploratory study compares the Froude efficiency (η_F), intra-cyclic speed fluctuation (ICSF) and other performance determinants between two freestyle swimming techniques: double-arm backstroke and front crawl, and then demonstrates how Para swimmers with hypertonia differ from non-disabled swimmers when performing double-arm backstroke. Three-dimensional motion analysis was undertaken on three Para swimmers with hypertonia (sport classes 3–4) and eight non-disabled swimmers performing a simulated double-arm backstroke with lower limbs immobile. The non-disabled group also completed front crawl trials. Swimming speed, stroke frequency, stroke length and η_F were significantly greater, and ICSF significantly lower, during front crawl than during double-arm backstroke in non-disabled swimmers. Para swimmers’ double-arm backstroke speed was 45–52% that of the non-disabled group; their stroke length was 58–69% shorter and stroke frequency 26–53% higher. Non-disabled swimmers demonstrated higher peak elbow extension velocity during the push phase than Para swimmers (6.36 ± 1.26 rad∙s⁻¹ vs. 1.50–1.81 rad∙s⁻¹) and their η_F was approximately double the Para swimmers’ (0.33 ± 0.02 vs. 0.14–0.18). Para swimmers displayed poorer body alignment than the non-disabled group; ICSF did not differ between groups. Double-arm backstroke is slower and less efficient than front crawl. Hypertonia may reduce the efficiency of double-arm backstroke by diminishing propulsive movements and worsening body orientation. Full article

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains inadequately treated by existing pharmacological and psychological interventions, prompting growing interest in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Although randomised controlled trials have evaluated several psychedelic agents for PTSD, to our knowledge, no prior PTSD-specific synthesis has quantitatively examined multiple agent classes within a single review framework. This systematic review and meta-analysis searched PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, and clinical trial registries to identify RCTs of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool, and random-effects meta-analyses were conducted for efficacy outcomes; safety and therapeutic protocols were synthesised narratively. Eleven RCTs involving 358 participants met inclusion criteria, evaluating MDMA, ketamine, and cannabidiol, of which eight contributed to meta-analyses. MDMA-assisted psychotherapy demonstrated a significant moderate-to-large reduction in PTSD symptom severity with negligible heterogeneity, and participants were significantly more likely to achieve clinical response and loss of PTSD diagnosis. The pooled effect for ketamine was small and non-significant, and a single cannabidiol trial showed no clear benefit. All agents were generally well tolerated. MDMA-assisted psychotherapy showed a promising efficacy signal for PTSD symptom reduction, although safety data were heterogenous and remain insufficient for strong comparative conclusions. Evidence for ketamine and cannabidiol remains too limited to support clinical implementation and it is noted that the current evidence base is dominated by MDMA trials. Further adequately powered trials with standardised outcomes and direct comparative studies across agents are needed. Full article

Fire is an essential component of species, ecosystems, and atmospheric dynamics. However, human activity has caused changes in fire regimes over the past two decades. In many cases, the spatial patterns of vegetation change after fire at the landscape scale remain unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate spatial vegetation trends in burned areas across the Americas (2001–2024), using non-parametric tests and analyzing Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) remote sensing products. Over a period of 24 years, fire activity burned a total area of 429.7 million hectares in 44 countries or territories and 269 ecoregions in the Americas. Regarding fire recurrence, the data indicates that 244.7 Mha (56.9%) burned only once (≤1), while 185.0 Mha (43.1%) burned multiple times (≥2), with certain regions experiencing up to 39 fires. The NDVI trend analysis showed that burned areas with increasing trends (p < 0.05) represented a total of 149.6 Mha (34.8%), primarily in Brazil (54.6 Mha, 12.7%), Argentina (17.8 Mha, 4.2%), the United States (14.4 Mha, 3.4%). In terms of decreasing NDVI trends (p < 0.05), these represented a total of 91.8 Mha (21.37%), primarily in Brazil (29.1 Mha, 6.8%), Canada (23.4 Mha, 5.4%), and the United States (14.2 Mha, 3.3%). The ecoregions with the largest areas showing increasing NDVI trends (p < 0.05) were the Cerrado (33.8 Mha, 7.8%), the Llanos (13.3 Mha, 3.1%) and the Humid Chaco (7 Mha, 1.6%). In contrast, the ecoregions with the largest areas showing decreasing NDVI trends (p < 0.05) were the Dry Chaco (9.2 Mha, 2.1%), the Cerrado (8.6 Mha, 2.0%), and the Boreal Shield (8.3 Mha, 1.9%). In terms of land cover types, savannas (37.2%) exhibited the highest proportions of increasing NDVI trends (p < 0.05), while decreasing trends were also present in savannas (28.0%) and grasslands (22.1%). Identifying spatiotemporal trends in vegetation change after fires is a fundamental step in implementing strategies and public policies to ensure ecological restoration. Moreover, given the high costs of restoration efforts, governments must work together to prevent these ecosystems from burning repeatedly. Full article

Objectives: Stroke predominantly affects older adults and is accompanied by age-related declines in balance and mobility. Given the inter-individual variability in post-stroke functional capacity, identifying the most effective dual-task training modalities for specific patient profiles is essential for precision-based stroke rehabilitation. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the differential effectiveness of motor dual-task training (MDT) and cognitive dual-task training (CDT) on gait performance, balance control, and motor function while exploring other moderating factors. Methods: The study followed the PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search of six English databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL) and one Chinese database (CNKI) was conducted from November 2023 to June 2025. Randomized controlled trials involving adult stroke survivors were included. Outcomes included gait, balance, and lower-extremity motor function. Random-effects meta-analysis, subgroup analyses, and meta-regression were performed to evaluate modality-specific effects and moderating factors. Results: Twenty-one RCTs (n = 786) were included. Dual-task training demonstrated moderate improvements in both temporal (SMD = 0.50, p = 0.03) and spatial (SMD = 0.5, p = 0.04) gait performance and balance control (SMD = 0.71, p = 0.02), but not motor function. MDT demonstrated superior effects on gait speed and stride length (SMD = 1.15, p = 0.01; SMD = 0.89, p < 0.01), whereas CDT showed greater benefits for balance (SMD = 0.59, p < 0.01). Greater balance improvements were observed in individuals at high fall risk, and subacute patients showed enhanced responsiveness. Conclusions: These findings provide guidance for tailoring dual-task modality and timing to individual patient profiles, though high heterogeneity and the lack of direct comparisons between MDT and CDT limit definitive conclusions. Full article

Objectives: Sleep-wake state discrepancy, the discrepancy between self-reported and objective sleep measures, is commonly experienced in poor sleep and insomnia. While perfectionism is implicated in insomnia, its relationship to sleep-wake state discrepancy has not been investigated. This study aimed to assess the association between sleep-wake state discrepancy and perfectionism and explore whether dysfunctional sleep beliefs and pre-sleep arousal mediate that relationship. Methods: Sixty adult participants from community and clinical populations were conveniently sampled (85% females, mean age 30.28 ± 11.13 years, 38% with insomnia symptoms). Sleep-wake state discrepancy measures were calculated using data from actigraphy and sleep diary collected over 14 days. The Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS), Hewitt–Flett Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (HFMPS), Dysfunctional Beliefs about Sleep (DBAS), and Pre-sleep Arousal Scale (PSAS) were also collected. Results: High perfectionism levels were associated with high levels of sleep-wake state discrepancy. Concern over Mistakes and Doubts about Actions correlated with sleep onset latency discrepancy with small effects (r = 0.26 and 0.29, respectively). Doubts about Actions was associated with sleep onset latency discrepancy. Furthermore, pre-sleep arousal and cognitive pre-sleep arousal mediated relationships between sleep onset latency discrepancy and Concern over Mistakes and Doubts about Actions. Conclusions: Concern over Mistakes and Doubts about Actions relate to a poorer perception of sleep relative to objective sleep measures. During sleep onset, cognitive pre-sleep arousal appears to mediate relationships between perfectionism and sleep-wake state discrepancy. Therefore, perfectionism may be an important cognitive-emotional factor to consider when assessing and treating sleep-wake state discrepancy that commonly accompanies insomnia. Full article

Proteus mirabilis is a frequent cause of complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs), in which biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance contribute to persistence and therapeutic failure. This study investigated the biofilm-forming capacity, antimicrobial resistance profiles, virulence-associated genes, and genetic diversity of P. mirabilis isolates recovered from UTI patients in Isfahan, Iran. A total of 104 non-duplicate clinical isolates were analyzed. Biofilm formation was quantified using a microtiter plate crystal violet assay, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed according to CLSI guidelines. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production and extended-spectrum cephalosporin resistance (ESCR) were assessed phenotypically and by PCR. Selected virulence- and biofilm-associated genes were detected by PCR, and clonal relatedness was evaluated using ERIC-PCR. Most isolates were capable of biofilm formation, with 51% classified as strong and 45.2% as moderate producers. High carriage rates of virulence- and biofilm-associated genes, including zapA, zapD, ureC, ureR, luxS, rsbA, and acrA, were observed. ESBL production and ESCR phenotypes were detected in 6.7% and 12.5% of isolates, respectively, while multidrug resistance was observed in 30.4% of isolates. ERIC-PCR analysis identified predominant clonal clusters among isolates exhibiting strong biofilm production. These findings highlight the coexistence of biofilm formation, virulence determinants, antimicrobial resistance, and clonal diversity in uropathogenic P. mirabilis in this region. Full article

Transradial amputation severely impairs hand function, and myoelectric control offers a promising solution. However, due to the heterogeneity of neuromuscular compensation, existing methods often struggle to generalize across populations with varying residual limb lengths. In this study, we collected an EMG dataset from 41 participants, including healthy individuals and amputees with long, medium, and short residual limbs, performing 15 gestures, and proposed a Multi-Scale Convolutional Block with Dual Attention Network (MSCB-DualAttn) that integrates parallel multi-scale convolutions (kernel sizes 3, 5, and 7) with channel and temporal attention mechanisms. The model achieved recognition accuracies of 93.79%, 86.13%, and 78.10% in the healthy, long-stump, and middle-stump groups, respectively, and 62.69% in the short-stump group, representing a 13.83 percentage point improvement over the baseline model. Ablation studies and interpretability analyses confirmed the complementary roles of the multi-scale and attention modules, while the performance degradation in the short-stump group suggested a potential limitation of existing models when neuromuscular control shifts from fine synergy to coarse compensation. This study proposes a model framework that enhances gesture recognition accuracy in amputees and highlights the potential of physiology-driven architectures for myoelectric control. Full article

Written feedback on high-stakes assessment has the potential to provide students with valuable advice for future assessment episodes, but when feedback has a negative impact on students’ emotions, it can negate any benefits. This exploratory study reports on the perceptions of 14 lecturers and 19 students regarding their emotions toward written assessment feedback within a university preparatory program for students at a regional university in Australia. Focus groups were used to collect data from the participants. The data were analysed with NVivo Version 11 software. The data were further analysed by the authors, who identified and categorised phrases pertaining to students’ and lecturers’ emotions about feedback. The study found that lecturers and students had mixed feelings about written feedback, especially when personal connections between lecturers, other staff, and students were tenuous. It concluded that further research focusing on the impact of emotions on how students perceive written feedback and apply it in future assessments could provide insights into how to enhance contemporary tertiary teaching and assessment practices. Full article

The temperature management models for solar greenhouses exhibit strong regional dependency. Their application in non-target environments often faces significant limitations, frequently resulting in severe temperature control deviations. To address this challenge, seven solar greenhouses located in Lingyuan (Liaoning Province) and Yinan (Shandong Province) were utilized as experimental platforms. Using real-time environmental data collected by the NEUT-80S IoT monitoring system, backpropagation (BP) neural network models were trained and validated. Multiple stepwise regression analysis identified total solar radiation and sunshine duration as the primary determinants of cucumber yield. Based on these findings, a dynamic weight matrix was constructed using a solar radiation clustering algorithm. By integrating similarity distance and similarity coefficient, a microclimate similarity determination logic was established, leading to the proposal of an automatic model selection strategy with an 11-day update cycle. Quantitative validation demonstrated that when the threshold conditions—a similarity coefficient (R) ≥ 0.6 and a similarity distance (D) ≤ 0.85—are met, triggering the optimally matched model significantly improves the simulation goodness-of-fit (R²) from 0.6716 in the unmatched state to 0.9851. This strategy effectively achieves the cross-regional adaptation of high-yield temperature management models, providing robust technical support for the advancement of precision protected agriculture. Full article

Runway friction is a critical factor for aircraft operational safety, yet the role of adhesion in wet friction remains insufficiently understood, especially in areas where tyre rubber contaminates the surface. This study evaluated approximate adhesive contribution for representative common runway surfaces, using contact angle measurements and British pendulum tester friction tests. The results show that approximate adhesion influence varies strongly with surface type: negligible on cement concrete, 16% to 19% on rubber-contaminated asphalt, and up to 49% on roughened rubber. A linear correlation between friction and contact angle confirmed that wetting behaviour governs adhesion-driven friction. Friction tests at different temperatures also confirmed the adhesive nature of the temperature influence on friction. The analysis further indicates that material properties and greater effective surface area correlate with stronger adhesive contributions, explaining material-specific differences in friction performance. These findings may provide a conceptual basis for interpreting variability in continuous friction measurements and suggest the importance of considering adhesion effects in runway surface characterisation and maintenance systems. Full article

Runway microtexture is a key parameter governing pavement friction. In recent years, several microtexture assessment methods have been developed; however, understanding of microtexture evolution under operational conditions, as well as the effects of maintenance techniques, remains limited. In this study, a runway at an Australian airport was investigated using laser profilometry. Measurements were conducted across multiple transverse sections, including aircraft touchdown and mid-runway zones. Microtexture deterioration rates were evaluated based on the estimated number of tire–pavement contacts, and aggregate polishing was assessed at different locations. Measurements were also performed after rubber contamination removal and rejuvenation treatments. The results indicate that approximately 25% of total microtexture reduction can be attributed to surface polishing, with a lower contribution in touchdown zones due to the protective effect of rubber deposits. A non-linear degradation trend was observed in touchdown zones, where approximately 1100 tire contacts reduced average microtexture roughness from 18 μm to 11 μm. Rubber removal effectively restored microtexture close to its original levels across the runway width. A rejuvenation treatment with a covering of fine sand initially improved microtexture; however, rapid deterioration occurred due to loss of the sand coating. These findings improve the understanding of microtexture evolution under operational runway conditions, albeit only at a case study level, and support more effective runway maintenance planning and intervention strategies. Full article

Limb movement is an important component of control during safety-critical tasks such as driving. Restricted movement, such as limitations associated with an injury or surgery to the upper limb, may impact driving safety. However, the degree of upper limb movement required for driving is not well described outside of traditional laboratory settings. There is a need for new affordable, accessible, reliable and accurate measures of normative limb movement to guide decisions about driving capacity. This feasibility study applied a volume estimation approach to wrist-worn triaxial accelerometry data to quantify upper limb movement during naturalistic driving in a young adult population. A sample of 89 participants wore accelerometers while engaging in daily driving activity over a two-week period. Results demonstrated a distribution of movement volumes, consistent with variation in individual driving behaviour. This volume estimation approach has strong potential for further development as both a research tool and clinical assessment method, particularly in rehabilitation and return-to-driving assessments following upper limb injury or surgery. Full article

There are abundant energy resources in remote areas of China, such as photovoltaics and small hydropower. With uncertain factors such as sunshine and climate, hydroelectric and photovoltaic power generation face prominent problems such as large output power fluctuations, unstable energy transmission, and difficulty in multi-converters’ synchronous control for primary frequency regulation. This article proposes an adaptive dynamic programming (ADP) control method and energy management strategies for multi-converters under primary frequency regulation, in order to address the problems of large-scale access to new energy. Firstly, a parameter online optimization design is proposed based on ADP controller to improve the dynamic performance of the system and the power quality of the output currents of multiple converters. Secondly, in order to achieve energy optimization management of multiple converters, a multimodal collaborative optimization control strategy is proposed to achieve energy optimization control and comprehensive management of the entire system. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed ADP and energy management strategies are verified by simulation. Full article

Introduction: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus characterized by metabolic acidosis, ketogenesis, hypovolemia, hyperglycemia, and electrolyte depletion. During treatment of DKA with intravenous fluids and insulin, some electrolyte disturbances can worsen. Hypophosphatemia is one such electrolyte disturbance that has not been well characterized in patients with severe DKA requiring Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions. This study sought to evaluate the incidence, severity, associations, and outcomes of hypophosphatemia in DKA. Methods: This retrospective multicenter study was conducted across DKA admissions to Queensland ICUs from 2016 to 2021. Adult patients (>18 years) requiring ICU admission for management of DKA were included in this study. Patients with DKA were stratified by lowest recorded phosphate level as: normal ≥ 0.80 mmol/L, mild 0.50–0.79 mmol/L, moderate 0.30–0.49 mmol/L and severe < 0.3 mmol/L. Patient demographics, comorbidities, ICU-related supports, and medications (including fluid, insulin administration, phosphate, and other electrolyte replacement) were collected. Univariate analysis was performed between hypophosphatemia severity and normophosphatemia subgroups to determine risk factors, outcomes, replacement, and progression of hypophosphatemia in the ICU. Phosphate replacement and administered insulin was compared to nadir serum phosphate level. Multivariate analysis and linear regression were performed to identify risk factors for the development of hypophosphatemia. Results: A total of 842 admissions of 669 unique patients due to DKA were included; 436 of 842 (51.8%) admissions maintained normophosphatemia in the ICU, while 220 (26.1%, n = 220/842) had mild hypophosphatemia, 124 (14.7%, n = 124/842) had moderate hypophosphatemia and 62 (7.4%, n = 62/842) had severe hypophosphatemia. Patients with higher BMI, higher APACHE II/III score, cerebrovascular disease and all blood gas parameters (excluding PaO₂) were found to have more severe hypophosphatemia. Lower serum phosphate was associated with greater replacement and greater insulin administration per kilogram body weight. ICU length of stay, hospital length of stay and mortality were not affected by degree of hypophosphatemia (p > 0.05). Linear regression revealed that standard base excess was strongly associated with the development of hypophosphatemia (β = 0.02, 95% CI 0.01–0.02, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Increasing severity of hypophosphatemia was associated with increasing severity of DKA. Increased ICU length of stay was related to increased severity of hypophosphatemia. Full article